Horsemeat in my Meatballs?

Last year, California voters rejected a law that required food manufacturers to label any food items that were genetically altered. The common sentiment at the time was, “I just don’t care to know as long as it’s delicious.” Well, today, I’d bet that people feel differently with the recent news outbreak about horsemeat found in a variety of beef products across Europe, ranging from Ikea’s famous Swedish meatballs to the beef sold at Taco Bell. It’s especially surprising given that Europe oftentimes carries tougher regulations for food than the US.

The truth is you get what you pay for. It’s often tempting to just look for food with the lowest price tag, but it’s more important to know where your food is coming from. This is a struggle I grapple with daily as a consumer. I’m always careful to make sure that I only cook with the best ingredients and with high quality products. I make sure to select establishments that I know take pride in the quality of their product rather than competing on price. I have a lot of respect for chains like Chipotle that openly discuss where they source their meat and the process they follow to maintain a high quality product. And I’m always skeptical at establishments that can’t or won’t share that same information.

Last year, pink slime was all over the news and headlines scared people from buying meat at supermarkets. Pink slime is an additive that some retailers use as a filler for ground beef. Far from 'all natural.'

So, the next time you’re buying meat or ordering a great meal, I encourage you to ask more questions. In fact, hold me accountable. As owner of two butcher shops, I love talking about the quality of the product I sell and explaining to customers how to differentiate between a good piece of meat and a bad one. It’s the power you have as a consumer to make sure there’s no horsemeat sold here as beef in the good ol’ USA.

Kal Gullapalli is owner of Fork & Cleaver, Malverne Prime Meats and Joe’s Meat and Gourmet Deli.